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<p>The new schedule is probably worth the new downsides. The big thing was having finals and papers hanging over students’ heads, and H students are probably more subject to being unable to chill with work undone than most students.</p>
<p>Ronsard,</p>
<p>We are also a long distance - although within the US - and air travel is not insignificant for us to handle. Here’s what we found as son matured and gained more confidence at Harvard. Students can let professors and TFs know about the cost issue for travel and they will very often accommodate a reservation made long in advance to conserve cost. This means the student has to be ahead of the curve and take exams early or turn in papers early. Perhaps your child can discuss the problem with her TF, who can bring it to the professor??</p>
<p>And yes - cost aside - the new schedule is a blessing.</p>
<p>thanks Twinmom :)</p>
<p>Thanks, Sew Happy. I told daughter to go speak with the dean since she had already approached her prof. I hope it works. What would solve this problem is to make FIRM dates for finals that end more than 3 days before Christmas. I think that would make a significant impact on the situation. I’m checking Kayak 3 times a day trying to get a reasonable flight. The ones I’m finding under $900 are really a tough thing for a 17 year old female alone- overnights in terminals, or very long layovers. And even $900 is a big swing for us, especially at Christmas and with the next term bill due. Harvard has been a blessing for my daughter, but this is one place they didn’t seem to get it right. Let’s hope they look at this situation now and remember the international kids in the future! (I agree with the rest of you- the thought of having exams after the holidays really puts a damper on things. Can you imagine that hanging over your head? No real mental relaxation.)</p>
<p>Hi Parents, Did any of your S/D go for an interview at Harvard? How was the interview and any info would be great.<br>
Thanks…</p>
<p>Ronsard - Under the old schedule (at least last year’s) the kids only got a two week break before reading period started. Although its called “reading period” some teachers continue to teach during that time or review the materials, so missing reading period could be a problem. I sympathize with your situation. Our son had a exam scheduled for the 21st also and just informed us that the exam for that class was cancelled so that his last exam is now on the 17th.</p>
<p>collegesgirl - Son did an interview at Harvard in August before Senior year. He told me that the interview went well and my impression from him was that it was one of the friendlier interviews that he had done. The interviewer asked general questions about his subjects and what his school day was normally like. We did have a devil of a time finding the admissions office, so be sure to get a map.</p>
<p>re airfare costs: The downside is the travel home, but the upside is the fares back to Harvard later in January are very reasonable. Older S is in the opposite position. Comes home early but needs to head back on January 3rd. And the flights on the 3rd were very expensive. So for our family, it was 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. I just booked one-way home for younger S (the Harvard frosh). I just can’t imagine him staying put with us for 4 weeks, especially since his older brother will be leaving so early. So I left his return trip open in case he wants to visit friends and then fly back to Boston from there. Of course, we are in the US, albeit pretty far away.</p>
<p>Another nice thing about Harvard’s schedule change is that we are no longer paying for two roundtrip tickets within a month period, which we did last year. Last year S flew home for two-week Christmas break, flew back to Harvard for 2.5-week reading period/finals, then flew back home again for 9-day semester break. That was expensive and time-consuming, since we live almost four hours from a major airport and we had to pick him up or drive him back to the airport for each segment of the trips.</p>
<p>Be glad they come home still - we are braced for that not happening at spring break and probably not next Thanksgiving. With so many classmates from the Northeast they develop a lot of fun options that don’t include going home. </p>
<p>We will probably look back a bit nostalgically on these travel costs . . .</p>
<p>Many do not come home for summers either as there are so many opportunites on or around campus.</p>
<p>Collegesgirl - By the end, D had three interviews - one alumni followed by two AC on campus. For her, they were a great experience.</p>
<p>A couple of old threads that may help:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/448149-how-your-harvard-interview.html?highlight=harvard+interview[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/448149-how-your-harvard-interview.html?highlight=harvard+interview</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/652256-second-interview.html?highlight=harvard+interview[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/652256-second-interview.html?highlight=harvard+interview</a></p>
<p>You can also do your own specific searches. These were only two of many. Use the advanced search feature for the best results.</p>
<p>Thanks for the 2 threads. Still pretty new to CC. When she interviewed, had she already sent in her application? I have been debating to send it in, or wait until after the interview to see if there are any other subjects I should cover in the interview.</p>
<p>Did your daughter end up attending?<br>
Thanks again!!</p>
<p>D sent in her application over Thanksgiving last year. She was contacted just before x-mas to schedule a post new year alumni interview. She was then contacted again over February break to arrange for a March on-campus. The third was added on the spot at the second.</p>
<p>D is there. She is a very happy freshman.</p>
<p>Did you have to travel far? We are a plane ride away. Wondered if she thought the interview helped?</p>
<p>Our drive to Harvard is 25 - 45 minutes away depending upon the traffic. Of course the alumni interview was local which will also be the case when your alumni interview gets set up. </p>
<p>As for whether the interview made a difference, at the time D felt that she had had a really good alumni interview and that they had connected well. I know that she felt that it was part of the reason that Harvard was still considering her at the time that they set up the additional interview(s). </p>
<p>The interview was also the turning point for her. Up until that time, she was actually not interested in Harvard (both visits to Harvard’s campus had not been positive) and had not wanted to apply. She had added it on as a “what the heck the application is easy”. It was as she prepared for the interview that she began to realize that Harvard might be a match that she had previously not realized. The interviewer helped to affirm this feeling. D came out not only excited about the interview and interviewer but also excited about Harvard. So in the end, I think it helped her get in but also helped her decide to attend.</p>
<p>collegesgirl:</p>
<p>Most applicants get interviewed by an alumnus or alumna rather than on campus. Even though my S was in school literally two minutes’ walk from campus, he had to tear down Mass Ave to be interviewed by an alumna! That was several years ago. It seems that more interviews happen on campus, but the majority are still done by local alums.</p>
<p>It’s strange - Sewhappy has been trying to respond to this thread (I have gotten three e-mails with their content) yet none have managed to show up.</p>
<p>My son had his interview about 1 month after he submitted his application. His interview lasted about 30 minutes and was pleasant. He met the alumni at his business office near our home and that was it. </p>
<p>Other students from my son’s school also met with this same person and all lasted about 30-45 minutes. We’re in California. </p>
<p>Best of luck to those interviewing</p>
<p>My daughter had an hour’s drive to interview with a US Harvard alum in Germany. It was a little scary - at an empty (over winter holidays) lab at a German university. She thought it was very positive. The interviewer asked her specifically about other applications. She tried to side-step, but he pressed and she told him she was accepted EA at MIT. She said at that point he spent a lot of time telling her why she would like Harvard better. She came out feeling wanted and very positive. I still wasn’t convinced she would get in, but she did. There were no call backs, although she would gladly have gone. The alum was very kind to her and did his best to make her feel comfortable. (Same with the MIT alum she interviewed with, though.)</p>